Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Arrest of Marko Boskic - Srebrenica Genocide Perpetrator
The Arrest of Marko Boskic - Srebrenica Genocide Perpetrator
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
2004 and all evidence seized in a search at his home that day.
I. FINDINGS OF FACT
-1-
A. The Underlying Offenses
and 1995.
-2-
knew that he had in fact participated in the massacre of Muslim
Count Five alleges that Boskic again lied about his military
-3-
the conflict in the former Yugoslavia as a member of the 10th
point, Alistar Graham, who had been investigating for the ICTY
1
An A-file is a record on a foreign resident that contains
the whole immigration history of the alien, including all of the
applications he or she has filed with immigration authorities.
-4-
Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") received on
six months. Agent Carroll pulled the application out of the queue
in January 2004.
form indicated that the reason for the appointment was: "Form I-
was that Agent Carroll and Agent Hughes would question Boskic
Agent Carroll and Agent Hughes waited for Boskic to appear at the
-5-
having missed the appointment. He asked that the immigration
for August 25, 2004 at 3:30 p.m. Graham was summoned from the
the telephone and then met, at least once, to plan how they would
acquired.
The plan was to start the interview with only Agent Carroll
-6-
came to the United States, which would lead to questions about
bring Agent Hughes into the room because Agent Carroll would tell
Boskic that when a criminal record comes up, the applicant must
were concerned that they might have caused Boskic to suspect that
2
The agents theorized that Boskic might know that
immigration agents generally only record interviews when they are
going to deny benefits, and they did not want Boskic to think he
was on the verge of being denied because it might cause him to
suspect that he had been or was being investigated. Similarly,
the agents were worried that since interpreters are generally not
made available for immigration interviews -- if someone needs an
interpreter, they are told to bring their own -- the presence of
an interpreter might cause Boskic to wonder if there was
something else going on.
-7-
On August 25, 2004, prior to the scheduled interview of
Interview Room 24. They exchanged small talk along the way.
3
The form was titled "UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Immigration and Naturalization Service, Warning As To Rights."
The form provided the standard Miranda warning except that it
added a specification: "[a]nything you say can be used against
you in court, or in any immigration or administrative
proceeding." (emphasis supplied). The interpreter had translated
the form beforehand and the agents had photocopied the English
version and the typed translation in a way to make one two-page
-8-
English side of the form, which he did. After Agent Carroll put
the time (3:35 p.m.), date (9/25/05), and location (Boston, MA)
on the English side, he asked Boskic to read, sign, and date the
-9-
produced. Agent Carroll then asked Boskic "biographical"
current address, when he came into the United States, and why he
questions."
outside the United States because his passport was valid and it
document because a friend had told him that he could not travel
-10-
Boskic whether he had a criminal record in Bosnia. When Boskic
denied having such a record, Agent Carroll stated that "we" have
Agent Carroll left the room and returned about a minute later
with FBI Agent Hughes.5 Agent Carroll then gave what he called a
seat behind the desk and Agent Carroll sat next to Boskic. Agent
5
Contrary to his testimony, I find Boskic must have become
at least suspicious that the interview was not just about the
travel documents when Agent Hughes entered the room and began to
question him about his criminal history in Bosnia. I credit
Agent Hughes's testimony and Agent Carroll's written report that
later that evening Boskic said that he "knew what this was about
when the FBI came in." I find further, however, that Boskic did
not have any of the suspicions caused as a result of the presence
the FBI fully confirmed until Alistair Graham of the ICTY
introduced himself.
-11-
Hughes showed Boskic a document he said he had received from the
the charges had happened a long time ago and that they had been
1995 was not him because he was not in Bosnia at the time and
interpreter.
the desk. Agent Carroll again reminded Boskic that his rights
not to say anything and just listen to what Graham had to say.
Detachment and that he knew that Boskic had been a member of that
-12-
unit. He then explained that he had video footage of Boskic in
Boskic chose the latter and Graham played a CD that was already
and said that he knew this day would come. Graham then repeated
asked for some water everyone took a break and snacks were
6
Graham testified that he used the phrase "my
investigation." I find Boskic did not understand that Graham's
investigation was different from the investigation of the
American officials in the room. Neither Agent Hughes nor Agent
Carroll said anything to alert Boskic to the fact that Graham's
assurances did not pertain to any investigation they were
conducting.
-13-
offered.
return, Agent Hughes sat behind the desk and the three officials
yes or no.
United States. Boskic said he did not but he offered that he had
the main office lights shut off automatically. Nobody else was
left in the office so the agents got lamps from other offices to
apartment they called Agent Hughes and asked if they could also
look in Boskic's car. Boskic agreed that they could and Agent
-14-
(e) The Written Statement - When the questioning of Boskic
was over, Agent Hughes suggested that Boskic should write down
benefits to him of putting his story in his own words rather than
point that his statement might be used against him. Agent Hughes
did, however, remind Boskic that he did not have to write down
Boskic replied in English: "If I'm writing this down, I know what
I'm doing."
assisted with names and places, but he was in and out of the
writing process until about 8:20 p.m., when Boskic asked Agent
7
The two sentences dictated by Agent Hughes are as follows:
"I, Marko Boskic, understand and give up my rights. I am giving
this statement voluntarily, without promises and guarantees."
-15-
Carroll what was going to happen to him.
3. The Arrest
inquiry saying, "you will be held overnight and we'll take you
loved.
Carroll, Agent Hughes, and Graham on August 25, 2004 based on the
-16-
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments. Boskic also moves to
Fifth Amendment.
suppressed.
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the
The First Circuit has held that the Sixth Amendment right to
-17-
quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 430-32 (1986); United
Illinois, 406 U.S. 682, 688 (1972). It is only then, when "the
quotations omitted).
criminal complaint. See Von Kahl v. United States, 242 F.3d 783,
789 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 941 (2001)("The filing of
-18-
have specifically held that the mere filing of a complaint does
United States v. Moore, 122 F.3d 1154, 1156 (8th Cir. 1997),
8
See Beck v. Bowersox, 362 F.3d 1095, 1102 n. 4 (8th Cir.
2004) citing the following for the proposition that the Sixth
Amendment right to counsel does not attach with "an arrest
preceded by the filing of a complaint under Rule 3": Von Kahl v.
United States, 242 F.3d 783, 789 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 534
U.S. 941 (2001); United States v. Moore, 122 F.3d 1154, 1156 (8th
Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1135 (1998); United States v.
Langley, 848 F.2d 152, 153 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S.
897 (1988); United States v. Pace, 833 F.2d 1307, 1312 (9th Cir.
1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1011 (1988); United States v.
Duvall, 537 F.2d 15, 21-22 (2nd Cir.) (Friendly, J.), cert.
denied, 426 U.S. 950 (1976).
-19-
The First Circuit has not expressly addressed this issue
rule that the right to counsel does not attach until the
Heinz, 983 F.2d 609 (5th Cir. 1993) for the proposition that
Circuits.
Given this determination, I conclude that Boskic's Sixth
Amendment right had not yet attached when he spoke with Agent
-20-
Carroll, Agent Hughes, and Graham on August 25, 2004, even though
is only "once this right to counsel has attached and has been
person making an arrest within the United States ... [to] take
-21-
Cir. 1981). Accord United States v. Berkowitz, 429 F.2d 921, 926
hands.").
Cravero, 545 F.2d 406, 413 (5th Cir. 1976), cert. denied sub nom,
too soon, and a violation of the Sixth Amendment if they wait too
-22-
long," and they "are under no constitutional duty to call a halt
Drake held that "[d]elay has been held fatal, however, when
183 F.2d 977 (D.C. Cir. 1950).9 The Fifth Circuit made a similar
9
On the facts in Drake, the Tenth Circuit concluded that
the arrest was not purposely delayed to gain a tactical advantage
not otherwise attainable. "The agents apparently delayed service
in order to strengthen their case and to obtain peaceful
possession of the birds. The legal question is whether such a
delay is, in and of itself, impermissible. We hold it is not
when the evidence thus obtained could have been lawfully secured
without the arrest warrant." United States v. Drake, 655 F.2d
1025, 1027 (10th Cir. 1981).
-23-
comment in dicta in Toro, suggesting that a search may be
In McKnight, the case that provided the basis for the Tenth
since the real purpose of the invasion was not an arrest but a
the petitioner argued that his statements, made after the point
in time when the government had probable cause to arrest him for
-24-
agents had arrested him when they had cause, they "could not have
find that the resulting issues in this case would overlap with
As for Rule 5(c), I find that the Rule does not require
-25-
arrest. See Mallory v. United States, 354 U.S. 449, 451-56
(1957).
C. Voluntariness
after Graham entered the room until about 8:20 p.m. and from his
-26-
Court concluded "that without proper safeguards the process of
-27-
criminal tax fraud prosecution, even though the taxpayer was the
approximately 8:20 p.m. when Agent Carroll told him that he would
early evening until then the door to the interview room remained
Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 544 (1961). See also Unites
310 (1st Cir. 2002) quoting United States v. Byram, 145 F.3d 405,
Genao, 281 F.3d at 310 quoting Connelly, 479 U.S. at 170. When
-28-
issue of voluntariness.'" Beckwith, 425 U.S. at 348 quoting
activity] so that the statement was not his free and voluntary
(1st Cir. 1986) quoting Procunier v. Atchley, 400 U.S. 446, 453
Jackson, 918 F.2d 236, 242 (1st Cir. 1990). See also 18 U.S.C. §
-29-
to questioning of his right to the assistance of counsel;
and (5) whether or not such defendant was without the
assistance of counsel when questioned and when giving
such confession.
coerced in any way"), cf. United States v. Tingle, 658 F.2d 1332,
1334 (9th Cir. 1981)(noting that the defendant was sobbing and
who was familiar with the criminal justice system") and Lynumn v.
Illinois, 372 U.S. 528, 534 (1963)(where the defendant had "no
-30-
previous experience with the criminal law, and had no reason not
to believe that the police had ample power to carry out their
("[A]though the FBI deceived White to get him to the FBI office
one who [subsequently] initiated contact with the FBI ..., and it
cooperate.").
will,'" United States v. Lawrence, 889 F.2d 1187, 1189 (1st Cir.
1989) quoting New Jersey v. Portash, 440 U.S. 450, 459 (1979),
-31-
coercive because "[q]uestioning by captors, who appear to control
that the Court has assumed will weaken the suspect's will."
also have the "power without warrant ... to arrest any alien in
unlike in Perkins, for instance, where the suspect did not know
-32-
who was investigating the possibility of noncompliance with the
with the interview even after Agent Carroll told him the travel
2. Deception Generally
-33-
one that is "the product of a free and deliberate choice rather
from those in United States v. Rogers, 906 F.2d 189 (5th Cir.
his Fifth Amendment rights was not made with a full awareness of
-34-
confined the voluntariness concept by holding that only
United States v. Flemmi, 225 F.3d 78, 91 (1st Cir. 2000). "'Free
to be a fellow inmate").
-35-
because the police falsely threatened to take a suspect's child
away from her if she did not cooperate." Byram, 145 F.3d at 408
after the police had told her that state financial aid for her
infant children would be cut off, and her children taken from
Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731, 739 (1969) (holding that the fact
coercion). But see Spano v. New York, 360 U.S. 315, 323
-36-
(1959)(concluding that the "petitioner's will was overborne by
the petitioner that his job was in jeopardy, and that loss of his
job would be disastrous to his three children, his wife and his
and carried out by AUSA West, Agent Carroll, Agent Hughes, and
-37-
distorting an otherwise rational choice of whether to
confess or remain silent.
emphasis supplied).
the interview was only about his travel request so that they
-38-
mislead Flemmi or tried to dupe him."). To carry out the first
also led Boskic to believe that the purpose of the interview was
Agent Hughes into the room without raising too much suspicion.
-39-
in the hope that he could secure the travel document he believed
Agents Carroll and Hughes did not coerce Boskic into denying his
statements after Graham entered the scene until about 8:20 p.m.,
set of issues because when Graham told Boskic he was not the
Agents Carroll and Hughes suggested that the three officials were
-40-
to American authorities.
Cir. 1994), where the fact that "neither the state nor federal
found that "[a]t first, Byram was reluctant to talk, but he spoke
readily after [the officer] told him that he was not 'implicated
-41-
the room.10 Nevertheless, their actions and silence were
voluntary.
Boskic did not know that the "nature of the offense with ...
10
Although Agent Carroll initially misrepresented that the
purpose of the interview was to "go over" Boskic's re-entry
permit application and that the FBI has to be brought in when
criminal records come up, Boskic certainly understood that these
representations were false by the time Graham entered the room.
-42-
In contrast to his demeanor before Graham entered the room,
when he brought both Agent Hughes and Graham into the room. 18
statement, Boskic also wrote out in his own hand, following Agent
with law enforcement in the United States, was also familiar with
11
Boskic's demeanor was, however, not as indicative of
coercion as in Tingle, 658 F.2d at 1334, where the defendant was
sobbing and shaking throughout the interrogation.
-43-
Boskic was given breaks and offered food and drink. Boskic was
of a mature age (40 years old on August 25, 2004) and while
finished with his written statement when he was told around 8:20
have found that his statements up until 8:20 p.m. were voluntary,
five hours earlier and Agent Carroll reminded him of those rights
when Agent Hughes and Graham were each brought into the room.
-44-
Although Agent Carroll only did so in English, I find that
least, that Agent Carroll was referring to the rights written out
wrote out in his own hand following Agent Hughes's dictation that
he understood and was giving up his rights and that he was giving
Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, waived his Miranda rights when he chose
claims that his consent was not voluntary and thus the search
-45-
Romain, 393 F.3d 63, 69 (1st Cir. 2004) citing Schneckloth v.
Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 227 (1973). Consequently, for the same
D. Fundamental Fairness
-46-
consideration for justice as independently to require the
But the Court took pains to distinguish the facts in Kordel from
cases where:
-47-
U.S. 165, 169 (1952)(quoting Snyder v. Massachusetts, 291 U.S.
of due process.
-48-
Stringer, 408 F.Supp.2d 1083 (D.Or. 2006)12 and United States v.
12
In United States v. Stringer, the "deceit and trickery
[of SEC personnel] to keep the criminal investigation concealed
... went so far as to instruct court reporters to refrain from
mentioning the U.S. Attorney's involvement and to have [the
Assistant United States Attorney] avoid being near certain
interviews for fear his presence would cause the criminal
investigation to surface. Moreover, [the SEC attorney] misled
[the defendant] and his attorney into believing he was not a
target and evaded the question about the USAO's involvement."
408 F.Supp.2d 1083, 1089 (D.Or. 2006). The Court found that
dismissal of the indictment against the defendants was warranted
because this governmental misconduct was "'so grossly shocking
and so outrageous as to violate the universal sense of justice.'"
Id. quoting United States v. Smith, 924 F.2d 889, 897 (9th Cir.
1991).
13
In United States v. Rand, the FDA began civil proceedings
to determine whether the defendant business should be enjoined
from transporting its cancer vaccine in interstate commerce.
Despite the individual defendant's willingness to cooperate, the
government went ahead with a civil trial and questioned the
defendant on completely irrelevant matters. The SEC participated
to some extent in the civil proceedings and the defendant was
granted immunity. When the government later tried to prosecute
Rand for SEC violations, arguing that the scope of the immunity
could not have included SEC violations because it was unaware of
them until the end of the trial, the court dismissed the
indictment because the government had "engaged in an obnoxious
form of using parallel proceedings" by eliciting incriminating
statements in civil proceedings "from a defendant who had been
lulled into believing he was immunized from prosecution" where
the Government knew but did not inform the defendant that
criminal proceedings were pending. United States v. Rand, 308
F.Supp. 1231, 1234 (N.D. Ohio 1970).
-49-
Santana, 6 F.3d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 1993).
States v. Grunewald, 987 F.2d 531, 534 (8th Cir. 1993). See also
United States v. Tweel, 550 F.2d 297 (5th Cir. 1977). However,
were in play and the subject defendant was unaware of the pending
-50-
here simply summoned Boskic for a staged interview in response to
to remain even after Agent Carroll explained that he did not need
13, 18 (9th Cir. 1973) quoting United States v. Prudden, 424 F.2d
1021, 1032 (5th Cir. 1970) ("'Silence can only be equated with
Boskic did not ask what would happen to him until about 8:20
p.m., at which point the agents told him the truth -- he would be
arrested.
Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 846 (1998). "Even violations of the law
-51-
that is 'more egregious and more extreme' is required." McConkie
v. Nichols, No. 05-2727, slip op. at 4, (1st Cir. May 15, 2006)
child, the police detective defendant told him that "this stuff
-52-
officers to deliberately lie in official documents and perjure
interview in McConkie.
-53-
E. Perjury Trap
U.S. 564 (1976), United States v. Wong, 431 U.S. 174, and United
States v. Babb, 807 F.2d 272 (1st Cir. 1972). However, as Boskic
points out, the Supreme Court and the First Circuit appear to
-54-
United States v. Orta, 253 F.2d 312, 314 (1958) ("'The only
information about what happened and who else was involved in the
-55-
been to induce Babb to waive his fifth amendment
privilege and to give helpful testimony to the grand
jury. As we discussed above, Babb was not misled in this
manner. In fact, it defies logic to argue that
assurances that might have lulled a witness into giving
incriminating statements had the effect of inducing the
witness to commit perjury. Consequently, we find that
Babb has failed to establish the necessary nexus between
the alleged misconduct and his subsequent perjurious
testimony in order to support a claim of fundamental
unfairness.
(N.D.Ill. 1985).14
III. CONCLUSION
14
"It was not inconceivable that, under oath for the first
time, defendant would testify as the government apparently
believed the truth to be, and its case would be certain. If in
fact he lied under oath, as the government charges, he cannot be
insulated from a perjury charge solely because he said what the
government anticipated he probably would say. Defendant had
non-coercive options and he was fully warned. If he, an attorney,
chose to lie, that was his decision, and the government can
compel him to answer for the consequences." United States v.
Gonzales, 620 F.Supp. 1143, 1148-49 (N.D.Ill. 1985).
-56-
statements at issue here to be voluntary. Consequently, for the
_______________________
DOUGLAS P. WOODLOCK
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
-57-